In 1959, Velzy and Jacobs decided to open a second shop in San Clemente, CA because Velzy wanted to move there. Velzy ran the San Clemente shop, and Jacobs ran the Venice shop. Jacobs would build surfboards for the surfers in the Malibu to South Bay area, and Velzy would build surfboards for the San Clemente area. Unfortunately, Velzy wasn’t the best at managing finances, and the two mutually and amicably decided to go their separate ways. Velzy kept the two shops, and Jacobs rented a temporary shop in Hermosa Beach, CA where he soon built a permanent shop.

In 1960, Jacobs opened the new Jacobs Surfboards shop at 422 Pacific Coast Highway during the “golden years” of surfing, when the Beach Boys music hit the bandstand and Bud Browne, John Severson and Grant Rohloff movies were screened at local theaters. Surfer magazine was also becoming a must-have for every surfer. The facility included a retail shop in front and shaping rooms in the rear. At the time, Greg Noll was the only local competition. But soon others came, including Bing Surfboards, Rick Surfboards and Weber Surfboards.

When Jacobs first opened his shop at 422, he would shape all the boards himself with the help of Larry Felker, then have the boards glassed at Grant Reynold’s glassing shop. But as the business grew rapidly, he signed on some of the most famous shapers of that era, including Wayne Land, “Pal” Al Nelson, Dick Mobley, George Lanning, Kenny Tilton, Ricky James, Pete Miller and Rich Chu. Eventually Jacobs also taught a few of his team riders the craft of shaping surfboards, including Rick Irons, Robert August, Lance Carson. He also had one of the most accomplished and prestigious teams in surfing history. The Jacobs team riders included David Nuuhiwa, Miki Dora, Lance Carson, Mike Purpus, Mike Doyle, Dru Harrison, Robert August, Rick Irons, Johnny Fane, Henry Ford, Sparky Hudson, Kemp Aaberg and many more.

To be a member of the Jacobs team was the pinnacle of success for a surfer back then. Team riders would sport team shirts, jackets and trunks at every possible opportunity. At the time, surfers were not allowed to wear shirts with logos to high school. The team riders got around the rule by wearing their shirts and putting a thin white shirt over them so the logo would show through.

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